The Marquis of Vidal is a bad lot a rake and seducer, reckless, heedless, and possessed of a murderous temper. He is known by friend and foe alike... read more

The Marquis of Vidal is a bad lot a rake and seducer, reckless, heedless, and possessed of a murderous temper. He is known by friend and foe alike as the "Devil's Cub." Yet as the handsome and wealthy heir to a Dukedom, he is considered a good prospect on the marriage market. Vidal currently has his eye on the young, lovely, and unintelligent Sophia Challoner, and Sophia's greedy mother is more than happy to encourage his dubious attentions. The colorful and eccentric characters fall over each other's plots, get involved in very peculiar coincidences, engage in colorful derring-do, and generally make life difficult for each other. Narrator Michael Drew manages to distinguish one character from another without the verbal gymnastics that the plot would seem to require, allowing the listener to concentrate on the Shakespearian plot and priceless dialog. Enthusiastically recommended for libraries where romance and/or Heyer are popular. Barbara Rhodes, Northeast Texas Lib. Syst., Garland
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. (hide)

The Honourable Christopher Fancot is forced into an outrageous masquerade by the tangled affairs of his wayward family.

The Honourable Christopher Fancot is forced into an outrageous masquerade by the tangled affairs of his wayward family. (hide)

Another marvelous Georgette Heyer tale of the beautiful maiden and the debauched rake. This tale of redemption and humor is told within the context of Regency England. For... read more

Another marvelous Georgette Heyer tale of the beautiful maiden and the debauched rake. This tale of redemption and humor is told within the context of Regency England. For those who love Regency Romances, this is the author who started the genre and against whom all others pale. What a glorious choice to have San Phillips read the story. All the characters sound different through the coloring she gives each one. This wonderful recording is marred only by having to stop when changing tapes. Except for this unavoidable frustration--a marvelous performance. E.F. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine (hide)

A gentleman was strolling down a side street in Paris, on his way back from the house of one Madame de Verchoureux. He walked mincingly, for the red... read more

A gentleman was strolling down a side street in Paris, on his way back from the house of one Madame de Verchoureux. He walked mincingly, for the red heels of his shoes were very high. A long purple cloak, rose-lined, hung from his shoulders and was allowed to fall carelessly back from his dress, revealing a full-skirted coat of purple satin, heavily laced with gold; a waistcoat of flowered silk; faultless small clothes; and a lavish sprinkling of jewels on his cravat and breast.

The gentleman in question is Justin Alastair, the Duke of Avon, known by friends and enemies alike as Satanas--the devil. On this particular evening, the dangerous rake crosses paths with Léon, a red-headed youth of low birth who is fleeing a certain beating at his brutal brother's hands. On a whim, Avon buys the boy and makes him his page. It soon becomes clear, however, that Léon is not what he seems, and that Avon has an ulterior motive for bringing him into his household. Set in pre-Revolutionary France, These Old Shades follows a twisting course as young Léon (or is it Léonie?) is swept up in a dangerous mystery: how to account for the page's amazing resemblance to the sinister Compte de Saint Vire, for example; and why will this man go to any lengths to get the youth in his power?

Georgette Heyer's historical romances tend to fall into two different camps: later novels such as Cotillion, False Colours, and Sylvester feature larger-than-life comic characters and romantic pairings more akin to Beatrice and Benedick than Hero and Claudio. Earlier works such as These Old Shades, however, tend to be darker, tinged with mystery and overshadowed by very real menace. What both types share is Heyer's fine storytelling and encyclopedic knowledge of Regency mores and manners--her books are the next best thing to a time machine. These Old Shades's greatest asset, however, is the charming Léonie: beautiful, brave, and loyal to a fault, with a fondness for swordplay and pistols and a delightfully incomplete grasp of the English language. Heyer herself was so fond of this character that she featured her in two more novels, Devil's Cub and An Infamous Army. --Alix Wilber (hide)

When Ernest Fletcher is found bludgeoned to death in his study, everyone is shocked and mystified: Ernest was well liked and respected, so who would want to kill... read more

When Ernest Fletcher is found bludgeoned to death in his study, everyone is shocked and mystified: Ernest was well liked and respected, so who would want to kill him? Enter Superintendent Hannasyde who, with consummate skill, begins to uncover the complexities of Fletcher’s life. It seems the real Fletcher was far from the gentleman he pretended to be. (hide)

When Sophy goes to stay with her cousins in Berkeley Square, she finds them in a sad tangle of affairs – some romantic and others of a more... read more

When Sophy goes to stay with her cousins in Berkeley Square, she finds them in a sad tangle of affairs – some romantic and others of a more pecuniary nature. Perhaps the Grand Sophy has arrived just in time to save them. (hide)

"Heyer's women were spunky, daring and outrageous . . . her heroes the stuff of dreams."

"Heyer's women were spunky, daring and outrageous . . . her heroes the stuff of dreams." (hide)

A civilized game of Duplicate Bridge ends in a double murder in which both victims were strangled with picture wire. The crimes seem identical, but were they carried... read more

A civilized game of Duplicate Bridge ends in a double murder in which both victims were strangled with picture wire. The crimes seem identical, but were they carried out by the same hand? The odds of solving this crime are stacked up against Inspector Hemingway. Fortunately, the first-rate detective doesn’t miss a trick. (hide)

Readers who enjoy Regency Romances still recognize Georgette Heyer as tops in the field. Eve Matheson adds to the pleasure of this story through the flexibility of her... read more

Readers who enjoy Regency Romances still recognize Georgette Heyer as tops in the field. Eve Matheson adds to the pleasure of this story through the flexibility of her voice and tone. It's a treat to hear the starched-up dowagers, the self-important and often pompous men, the young girls just out of the schoolroom, the minor characters and, of course, the hero and heroine of the novel. The language of the early 1800's is fascinating, and the audiobooks provides an excellent example of high society during that period. D.M.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine (hide)

". . .a treasure beyond price. The Masqueraders is a wicked delight, worth more than its weight in gold . . ."

". . .a treasure beyond price. The Masqueraders is a wicked delight, worth more than its weight in gold . . ." (hide)

Georgette Heyer is best known for her witty and charming Regency romances, but she is also responsible for a handful of mystery novels. On occasion, mystery would find... read more

Georgette Heyer is best known for her witty and charming Regency romances, but she is also responsible for a handful of mystery novels. On occasion, mystery would find its way into her romances, embroiling her well-born heroes and heroines in adventures that were alternately chilling and hilarious. In The Reluctant Widow, Eleanor Rochdale, a young woman of good birth but straitened circumstances, sets out to accept a position as a governess and ends up plunged into a tangle of foreign intrigue instead.

Eleanor's adventure begins when she inadvertently mistakes the carriage waiting at the coach stop for one sent by her prospective employer, Mrs. Macclesfield. She finds herself carried to the estate of one Ned Carlyon, whom Eleanor mistakes for Mr. Macclesfield. Carlyon, meanwhile, believes Eleanor to be the young woman he hired to marry his dying cousin, Eustace Cheviot, in order to avoid inheriting Cheviot's estate himself. Somehow, Eleanor is talked into marrying Eustace on his deathbed and thus becomes a wealthy widow almost as soon as the ring is on her finger. What starts out as a simple business arrangement soon becomes much more complicated as housebreakers, uninvited guests, a shocking murder, missing government papers, and a dog named Bouncer all contribute to this lively, frequently hilarious tale of mistaken identities, foreign espionage, and unexpected love set during the Napoleonic Wars. (hide)

With the same ardour he so frequently displays in battle, Brigade-Major Harry Smith dives headlong into marriage. In his beautiful child-bride, Juana, he finds a kindred spirit, and... read more

With the same ardour he so frequently displays in battle, Brigade-Major Harry Smith dives headlong into marriage. In his beautiful child-bride, Juana, he finds a kindred spirit, and a temper to match. (hide)